Petunia plant named ‘PET0601’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘PET0601’, characterized by its mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching, vigorous growth habit; green foliage; and numerous light lavender colored flowers with dark lavender colored venation.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PET0601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PET0601’.

The new Petunia originated from a conventional cross of proprietary Petunia selections, ‘White Lightning’ (the female parent; not patented) and ‘Nor'Easter’ (the male parent; not patented) conducted on April 18th of 2003 in a cultivated area of Aqueboque, N.Y. Seeds from this cross were planted and the individual plant known as ‘PET0601’ was selected because of its combination of exceptional features, and has been propagated asexually by vegetative cuttings since that time. The unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘PET0601’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PET0601’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PET0601’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Mounding, outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching, vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous light lavender flowers with dark lavender venation.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from the parent plants in plant vigor and in the abundance of double blooms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PET0601’ grown in a container.

The photograph in the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PET0601’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical leaves and flowers of ‘PET0601’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Aquebogue, N.Y., under commercial practice during the spring and summer in a polyethylene covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 22 degrees C., night temperatures averaging 17 degrees C., and light levels ranging from 9,000 to 12,000 lux. Plants were grown for about 16 weeks in 25 cm containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar ‘PET0601’. -   Parentage: Female: Petunia ‘White Lightning’, Male: Petunia     ‘Nor'Easter’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 20 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, then mounding and outwardly spreading; extremely             vigorous growth habit. Freely basal branching habit lateral             branches potentially developing at every node.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio             containers and landscape applications.         -   Plant height.—about 20 to 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 60 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—About 25-30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—143C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement, before flowering.—Alternate, simple.         -   Arrangement, when flowering.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Viscid, pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 147B. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B.             Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina.             Petiole length: About 2 mm. Petiole diameter: About 1 mm.             Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.             Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers face upward or outward;             double, axillary. Freely flowering, typically about ten open             flowers and flower buds per lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; plants flower             from April until frost in New York; flowering continuous             during the flowering period. Plants start flowering about 3             weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Yes, sweet smelling.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth: About 4.0 cm. Tube             length: About 2.5 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About             1.2 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 4.0 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Oblong with ruffled apices. Color: 150C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Double whorl of seven to             ten petals. Petal lobe length: About 3 cm. Petal lobe width:             About 3 cm. Petal shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Petal apex:             Acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface:             Smooth, satiny. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Color.—Petal, when opening, upper surface: N155A. Petal,             when opening, lower surface: N155A. Petal, fully opened,             upper surface: mix of 76C and 84D. Petal, fully opened,             lower surface: 84D. Flower throat (inside): mix of 76C and             84D. Flower tube (outside): 84D. Venation, upper petal             surface: 84B. Venation, lower petal surface: 84b. Venation,             throat: 84A. Venation, tube: 84B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Double whorl of five to             seven sepals fused at base. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About             3 cm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: mix of 76C and 84D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 45 degrees to the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 143C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity/arrangement: Five to eight per flower;             stamens adnate to corolla tube. Anther shape: Oval. Anther             length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: 97C. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 97C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             2 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 150B. Style             length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: 144B. Ovary color: 144B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Does not set seed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from 2 to 32 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘PET0601’, as illustrated and described. 